The Palestine Chronology

Secy. Clinton announces that the Arab League is expected to meet on 5/1 to re-endorse proximity talks and that special envoy Mitchell will return to the region within days with plans to open indirect negotiations. U.S. officials say Abbas has agreed to resume talks after receiving a letter of assurances fr. Pres. Obama (not officially confirmed or released). (NYT, WP 5/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 2 Palestinian and 1 Irish journalist are detained) and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (2 Palestinians are injured; 4 Palestinians, 1 Israeli are detained); also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad nr. Qalqilya uproot 30 Palestinian olive trees nearby. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar escorted by IDF troops enter Hawara, vandalize 3 Palestinian homes. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

IDF troops enter the Erez industrial zone on the n. Gaza border, firing on Palestinians scavenging construction material fr. destroyed buildings, causing no injuries; troops pull back into Israel in the afternoon. The UN reports that 1 Palestinian has been injured in a tunnel collapse on the Rafah border since 4/21. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Hebron as an observation post; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 3 villages southeast of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. The UN reports that in the previous wk., Israeli Jerusalem municipal authorities demolished 1 Palestinian home in the Bayt Hanina neighborhood for construction of the “eastern ring road” (a settler-only bypass road connecting n. West Bank settlements to West Jerusalem). (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make 2 brief incursions into the s. Gaza no-go area nr. al-Qarara and Abasan, leveling lands to clear lines of sight, firing on residential areas during the operations to keep Palestinians indoors (no injuries reported). IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials in the destroyed Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no injuries. Israeli intelligence officers arrest an ailing Palestinian given permission to enter Israel through the Erez crossing for medical treatment; his family believes the permission to travel was granted as a ploy to capture him. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Jenin as a military barrack; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. With Israeli police approval and under police protection, Jewish settlers stage a march through Silwan in East Jerusalem to protest “illegal” Palestinian construction (i.e., without permits); police fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the settlers; at least 29 Palestinians, 2 Israeli policemen are injured. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire on Palestinian, international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 2 Palestinians, 1 international (from Malta) with live ammunition. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 5 villages south of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night house searches nr. Bethlehem, ordering 1 Palestinian to surrender for interrogation. Palestinians in Hebron stage a nonviolent march and sit-in outside Beit Romano settlement to protest settlement activity in the city; Jewish settlers move in to break up the demonstration but the IDF blocks them and disperses the Palestinians, arresting 3. (OCHA, PCHR, Times of Malta 4/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians of Bil‘in host an international conference calling for peaceful popular resistance against the separation wall. Afterward, participants (including EU special envoy Marc Otte and more than 20 other Arab and foreign diplomats) march peacefully toward the wall; IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at demonstrators injuring 7 (5 Palestinians, including 2 journalists; 1 Israeli; 1 international) and arresting 5 (3 Israelis, including 1 journalist; 1 American; 1 Palestinian). The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (4 Palestinians injured); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and skunk (a foulsmelling liquid) at peaceful Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. Jewish settlers uproot 20 olive trees nr. Salfit. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make a brief incursion into the s. Gaza border area e. of Abasan and Khuza to level lands and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem; makes a late-night incursion into Bayt Umar, raiding the homes of Palestinians involved in organizing local separation wall protests, firing stun grenades and tear gas in homes, breaking widows, arresting 5 Palestinians (4 are released on 4/25); conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. the Gush Etzion settlement blocks n. of Hebron pump settlement wastewater into nearby Palestinian land in Bayt Umar, flooding 70 d. of grape vines and washing away 300 m of stone fences; the PA Agriculture Min. believes the land will need to be treated for 2 yrs. before it can be used to grow crops for human consumption. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Bil‘in, and nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Ariel settlement nr. Salfit throw stones at passing Palestinian vehicles, causing no injuries. (PCHR 4/22; OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make an incursion into the no-go zone e. of Gaza City and are immediately fired upon by armed Palestinians, sparking an exchange in which 1 armed Palestinian is killed. In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches a Palestinian home in al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem at midday, arresting 3 Palestinians; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both locations); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, protesting the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian cars in nearby Jinsafut village. (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

Israel allows 3 truckloads of aluminum, 3 of wood into Gaza for the 1st time since 6/07 and 10/08, respectively. Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF seizes 7 d. of Palestinian land nr. Ramat Yishai settlement in Hebron claiming security reasons; makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding and searching the home of a local organizer of weekly protests against the separation wall, threatening to arrest him if he continues to organize demonstrations. Hamas authorities in Gaza execute 2 Palestinians convicted in a Hamas military court of collaborating with Israel in the assassination of several resistance fighters, marking the 1st executions since Hamas took control of Gaza in 6/07. (JP 4/15; NYT, WT 4/16; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

The IDF makes a brief incursion 250 m into Gaza e. of Jabaliya to level land along the border to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas and nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah. Jewish settlers vandalize a Palestinian mosque, burn 3 Palestinian cars in Hawara village. (PCHR, WP 4/15; OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

IDF tanks and helicopters on the c. Gaza border fire into the Strip at a group of armed Palestinians laying explosive devices along the border, killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and wounding 3; troops then send bulldozers 400 m into the area to level land and clear lines of sight. Late in the evening, Hamas-affiliated police move into the Rafah border area and order Palestinians to shut smuggling tunnel operations until further notice, allowing operators to retrieve food and other perishable goods from the tunnels before cordoning off the area. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarm. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron assault a Palestinian family working the land nearby, firing in the air to scare them off the land. (WP, WT 4/14; OCHA, PCHR, WP 4/15)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire stun grenades across the border into Umm Nasir village, causing no damage or injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops surround an elementary school in Azun village nr. Qalqilya and request permission of the headmaster to search classrooms for children wanted for throwing stones at their vehicles: the headmaster refuses, and the soldiers do not press the issue. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah; escorts bus-loads of Jewish settlers to Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus to pray, fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries. (JP 4/12; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march in ‘Ayn al-Bayda nr. Hebron to protest the separation wall and settlement activities, arresting 6 Palestinians (including a journalist) and 5 internationals (all released on bail by 4/12); conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids, house searches in Aida, al-Azza, and Dahaysha refugee camps nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo nr. Ramallah attack, damage a Palestinian car driving nearby, causing no injuries. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli arrested) and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones, taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (7 Palestinians injured); conducts late-night patrols in Bayt Liqya nr. Ramallah, making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into Gaza along the border e. of al-Qarara, leveling land to clear lines of sight; during the operation, the IDF moves tanks into the area, firing several shells, damaging 2 Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 3 mortars and 2 rocket-propelled grenades at an IDF unit patrolling the c. Gaza border inside Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding the home of 2 local organizers of weekly demonstrations against the separation wall, interrogating them, accusing them of incitement, and warning them against holding more protests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Jenin. Some 5,000 Jewish settlers guarded by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit, enter Islamic sites, vandalize homes; the IDF seals and restricts Palestinian movement inside the village while the settlers are present. (HA 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no casualties. A Palestinian is killed in a smuggling tunnel collapse on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. an unauthorized outpost in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem assault local Palestinians and international activists; the IDF removes the settlers fr. the area. (PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

In response to recent escalating rocket and mortar fire, IDF warplanes and helicopters carry out 7 early morning air strikes on 2 caravans nr. Khan Yunis (no injuries), a cheese factory in Gaza City (injuring 3 Palestinian children nearby), and a metal foundry in Nussayrat r.c. (no injuries) that Israel claims were weapons factories and arms depots, warning of broader retaliation if rocket attacks continue. The U.S. urges both sides to display restraint. Hrs. later, Hamas issues a statement saying it is working with Gaza factions to reimpose the cease-fire with Israel before it escalates out of control, but also condemns the Israeli air strikes for aggravating the situation and calls on the international community to press Israel to keep retaliation in check. (Salafist groups opposed to Hamas refuse to participate in the ceasefire.) In the West Bank, Palestinians stone a settler vehicle outside Hawara village nr. Nablus, causing it to crash (no word on injuries); the IDF sends troops into Hawara in pursuit of the stone throwers, arresting 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall and settlement expansion in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli is arrested), Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (3 Palestinians injured), al-Ma‘sara (where only Palestinians demonstrated; 4 injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. (AFP, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; NYT, WP 4/3; YA 4/7; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, causing no reported damage or injuries. IDF snipers fire into Gaza near the beach w. of Bayt Lahiya, causing some residents of the al-Sudaniyya neighborhood to evacuate for safety. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. A Jewish settler kills a Palestinian teenager in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Ramallah. (AFP, CSM, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; WP 4/3; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)